France ‘underestimated hate in CAR’

A woman cries during the funeral of a man who was killed several days ago in the Central African Republic capital Bangui. Picture: Siegfried Modola

United Nations - France's UN ambassador says his country underestimated the hatred and resentment between Christian and Muslim communities in conflict-wracked Central African Republic where people are being killed because of their religion or ethnicity.

Gerard Araud told a UN meeting on Wednesday on the prevention of genocide that African and French soldiers in the impoverished country “are facing a situation where we are between two communities which want to kill each other.”

“It is nearly an impossible situation for the African and French soldiers,” he said.

Araud said France is discussing what the soldiers should do to prevent people from killing each other “when they desperately want to” and cool the violent situation.

He said calls for an end to the fighting by religious leaders are being ignored.